Federal Society Hosts Forum on Quie Commission and Judicial Elections

JANUARY 8, 2010—The University of Minnesota Law School and the Federalist Society for Law & Public Policy Studies are hosting a forum on January 28 to discuss the future of judicial elections and judicial independence in Minnesota.

The program will feature discussions by former members of the Minnesota Citizens Commission for the Preservation of an Impartial Judiciary, commonly called the "Quie Commission" after former Minnesota Governor Al Quie (1979-83), who chaired the group.

The commission was formed in 2006 to make recommendations for potential reform of judicial elections. Among its proposals has been formation of an evaluation committee to establish criteria in providing voters with information to make public evaluation of judges.

Forum speakers will include Minnesota Supreme Court Justice G. Barry Anderson ('79), Administrative Law Judge at the Minnesota Office of Administrative Hearings Eric Lipman, former Hennepin County Bar Association president Mary Vasaly ('83), and Mohrman & Kaardal co-founder William Mohrman, who argued Republican Party of Minnesota v. White, the 2002 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that changed the nature of judicial elections in the state.

Panelists will discuss some options considered by the Quie Commission in comparison with the current system of judicial elections. Attendees will vote for their favorite proposals, with results announced at the post-forum reception.

The Quie Commission Forum will be held in the Law School's Lockhart Hall (Room 25) on Jan. 28, 2010, from 3:30-5:00 p.m. A reception will follow immediately in Auerbach Commons. For more information, contact Thos Fisher at fishe529@umn.edu.

The Federalist Society, a non-partisan group of conservatives and libertarians, is founded on the principles of preservation of freedom and separation of governmental powers.